Items of Interest November 12, 1932 Issue

Items of Interest

Occasionally Christmas cards and other remembrances prepared especially by Christian Scientists include their names followed by the initials "C. S.," "C. S. B.," or "C. S. D." The friends preparing these cards, or using them, apparently have not had their attention called to the fact that the use of these designations on non-professional personal cards, greetings, and so on, is not in line with the approved method. The initials "C. S.," which indicate that one has had class instruction by an authorized teacher of Christian Science, are expected to be used only in connection with one's work as a Christian Scientist. So also the designations "C. S. B.," given to those who have satisfactorily taken a course of instruction by Mrs. Eddy or by the Board of Education, and "C. S. D.," granted in accordance with Article XXIX, Section 1, of the Manual of The Mother Church to those Primary pupils of Mrs. Eddy who had practiced Christian Science healing acceptably during three years and presented the necessary credentials, are expected to be used mainly in connection with the holders' activities as Christian Scientists. Thus cards having to do with one's work as a practitioner or nurse in Christian Science ordinarily include the proper designation, if one has been class taught. The By-Law, Article VIII, Section 21, of the Church Manual, entitled "Use of Initials 'C. S.,' " furnishes a useful hint that to make public the fact of one's connection with Christian Science for the purpose of promoting a business enterprise is undesirable and likely to be misleading. Even in social relations there should be no risk of misapprehension that the senders are seeking advertisement in connection with their sacred work of practicing and living Christian Science.

At Schofield, Wisconsin, on January 1, 1899, there was dedicated a Christian Science church edifice built by a group of children who had been brought together by one of Mrs. Eddy's Primary students in March, 1896. They had had their meetings in her home, and from the first the services of the Sunday school included the reading of the regular lesson prescribed for each Sunday, and then the usual Sunday school exercises. There were eighteen children members, ranging in age from eight to fourteen years, and the group elected the usual officers, the Second Reader, clerk, and treasurer being some of the older children. A lad of fourteen years kept methodical and exact accounts, and at the end of each month presented a complete balance sheet showing income and outgo. Their friend and helper, Mrs. Eddy's student, was First Reader.

On October 1, 1898, it was found that the group had accumulated "a surplus of nine dollars, whereupon the children held a meeting and resolved, in a formal, yet confident manner, to appoint a building committee and build a church to be used by the Sunday School for its purposes" (The Christian Science Journal, February, 1899, p. 811). Schofield was a milling town, and was composed entirely of sawmills belonging to a lumber company, the homes of its employees, and a post office, to which was soon to be added a Christian Science church. The lot was donated. Two munificent gifts of ten dollars and twenty-five dollars were received from adult friends; and the building committee, consisting of the officers, began negotiations for the lumber although not expecting to need it until spring. During the winter the foundations were to be put in. The lumber dealer, however, encouraged them to go forward and build larger than they had anticipated. After a day or two the plans were ready, calling for a structure twenty by forty feet, with inside finish of hard wood, including floor and pews, and an exterior front in Greek design. There was to be a nice organ and attractive reading desk, and adequate heating and lighting provision. In just sixty days from the first action taken by the children their church edifice was completed and paid for; and they dedicated it, their treasurer announcing that they had a balance of $2.27 on hand.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Items of Interest

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access